Life-saving boat.



Patented ma 2|, l90l.

- C. BUCKEL.

LIFE SAVING BUAT. (Awlmnanni'mad Feb. 27, 1901. (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shag! l.

l R l a 2 A I n o t 0 Q No. 574,597. Patented May 2|, MN.

6. B-UCKEL.

LIFE SAVING BOAT.

(Application filed Feb. 27, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

nu. Nouns mi; 5a.. momum. wunmcmm. n. c,

UNITED STATES CHARLES BUCKEL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

'LlFE-SA VlNG BOAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,597, dated May 21, 1901.

Application filed February 27, 1901. serial No. 49,040. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES BUOKEL, a

'citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Life-Saving Boats; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de scription of the same.

My invention relates to an improved closedtudinal journals, about which it is turnable with relation to the exterior vessel, and it may also be provided with supporting antifriction-rollers beneath. Within this compartment the passengers are placed, and its erated from the suspended boat, and a rud' der is also provided to be operated from the interior.

My invention also comprises details of construction which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an exterior view. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 00 m of Fig. 1 looking toward the front, the swinging chamber being removed. Fig. 3 is a similar view on line y y of Fig. 1 looking toward the stern. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section, the middle portion being broken away.

The exterior vessel A may be of any suitable material, such as, preferably, iron or steel, and is here shown cylindrical in form, with conical ends B. It is provided with-a central vertical keel 2 and what are known as bilge-heels 3 to steady the vessel and prevent it from rolling. Upon the sides are projecting shelves 4., which will assist to limit the rolling of the vessel by striking the water as it rolls down upon either side. These shelves also serve as a foothold for persons desiring to board the vessel from the water.

Along the sides of the vessel are life-lines 5,

suitably attached, so as to be readily grasped by any one approaching the sides of the vessel, and by their aid they can mount the platforms 4 preparatory to entering through a hatch 6, which is here shown as being located centrally on the top of the exterior vessel, and it may be provided with a self-locking or other wiseoperated closure which will prevent the entrance of water. Within the apparatus isacontaining-chamher 7, which is journaled upon a shaft or shafts, as at 8, having their bearings essentially in the axis of the main outer vessel. This inner chamber 7 being suspended on the shaft is free to turn upon the shaft, or rather to maintain its vertical position whenever the exterior boat rolls in the sea-Waves, but may be locked to the outer shell, if desired, by any suitable means.

In order to further support the chamber 7, I have shown antifriction-rollers, as 9, so disposed as to support the interior chamber at point between its ends. It is thus able to carr any desired load and to allow the out- 85 side boat to roll freely without giving much motion to the interior chamber.

The main body of the exterior boat is, as previously described, approximately cylindrical, with the conical ends B, and the struco ture is made with aninterior concentric shell 16, forn iing double walls, and the space thus formed between the outer and inner shells is subdivided into smaller chambers, as l1 12, which chambers serve to contain stores of 5 any description, such as food, water, &c'.

The lower part of the double compartment (shown at 13) forms water-ballast spaces, and thesespaces are divided by transverse compartments into as many independent com- I00 p'artments 13 13 13 as may be found desirable. By any suitable or desired means water will be admitted automatically into any number of these compartments, and by means of a self-operating pendulum or other pump, as shown at 14, the water can be in a similar manner withdrawn from the compartments. The ballast and trimming of the vessel can thus be altered to suit the conditions.

15 represents ventilators located upon the top of the apparatus and so constructed that air may pass freely through the ventilator while water is prevented from entering, and any water which may splash up into the outer portion of the ventilator would be conducted away by a pipe or leader 16, discharging outwardly.

Suitable bulls-eyes or lights 17 are located along thesides and ends of the vessel, and the front and rear conical ends have tubular ventilator-openings 18, each being provided with a ball-valve l9,which valve will roll so as to close against the outer opening if the vessel pitches in that direction, and the balls may be allowed to roll back so as to open the ventilating'passages when the end of the vessel rises above the waves. The balls close against seats at each end of the valve-chamber.

Suitable automatic drains may be connected with any of the compartments, as desired.

In order to control the vessel, 1 have shown a propeller, as at 20, the shaft of which extends through suitable stuffing-boxes into the interior of the vessel.

By means of gearing or sprocket-chains, as at 21, connection is -made between the propeller-shaft and the shaft 8, upon which the compartment 7 is suspended. This shaft be ing axial longitudinally within the vessel, they will always remain in the same relative position with the compartment whatever position may be occupied by the exterior vessel.

Y In order to suitably propel the boat, a bevelgear may be fixed one member upon the shaft 8 and the other upon transverse shafts provided with cranks, as at 22, so-that manual or other power may be employed to rotate the shaft and through it the propeller. The rudder 23 is also suitably hung at the stern of the boat, and the stock may extend up through stuffing-boxes into the interior compartment, so as to be within reach of the operator.

24 is a waste or slop hopper, here shown as located at the stern of the boat and having valves, as at 25, one of which is closed when the other is opened, so that anything discharged into the hopper will first be received between the two and afterward discharged by opening the lower one when'the upper one has been closed.

The balls 19 roll easily in the valve-chambers 18, seating at the outer end when the vessel pitches downward and at the opposite end when it rises. The front chamber 18 is screwthreaded and removable to allow the anchor chain or cable to pass out through the opening when the vessel isto be anchored.

The double shells of the vessel serve two' purposes: First, if the outer shell becomes damaged the inner one will still protect the vessel and keep it water-tight, and, secondly,

air-chambers are formed between the two which will keep the vessel afloat even if the interior should be filled with water. Under these conditions it would still be buoyant, and persons could hold onto the life-lines at the sides.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The cylindrical conical-ended exterior vessel, with means for ingress and egress, and a hatch closable thereon, valvecont-rolled means for ventilating the vessel, light-openings having glazed closures, for admitting light to the vessel, an independent interior contaming-compartment, and a longitudinal shaft or journals from which it is suspended, said journals being approximately axial with the outer vessel.

2. A cylindrical conical-ended vessel having ingress and egress hatch having double walls and having light-openings extending through the inner and outer walls with glazed closures therefor, valve-controlled ventilating appliances, an interior longitudinallyjournaled compartment turnable independently of the outer vessel, and antifrictionrollers by which said compartment is supported in conjunction with its journal-shaft.

3. A cylindrical conical-ended vessel having double walls forming ballast-chambers between them, glazedlight-apertures extending through the inner and outer walls, valve-controlled means for ventilating the vessel, an

interior compartment jonrnaled upon longitudinal bearings axial with the outer vessel, and antifriction-rollers by which the bottom of said compartment is supported, connections with the journal-shaft whereby it may be rotated, a second shaft carrying a propeller and connections between the first-named and second shaft whereby power may be transmitted to drive the propeller.

1. A cylindrical conical-ended vessel, an interior shell of smaller diameter having waterballast partitions between the outer and inner walls in the lower portion, a pump by which said ballast-spaces may be filled or emptied, water and provision chambers formed above the ballast-spaces between the outer'and inner shells and means for draining the ballastspaces.

5. A cylindrical conical-ended vessel, an inner shell of smaller diameter with ballast and other chambers formed independently between the two, light openings extending through the two shells with suitable glazed closures therefor and ventilating-openings with controlling valves or guards.

6. In a vessel, the concentric conical-ended shells with ballast and other compartments formed between them, an interior similarlysh'aped compartment journaled axially with the outer shells having supporting bearingrollers intermediate of its ends, a propeller and propeller-shaft out of line with the suspension-shaft of the swinging compartment,

connections between the two shafts, and a crank-shaft and gears intermediate between it and the suspension-shaft whereby motion is transmitted from the swinging compartment to drive the propeller.

7. A vessel consisting of outer and inner concentric conical-ended shells, an interior axially-suspended swinging containing-compartment, light-openings through the sides of the shells and ventilating-openings at the top with housings so disposed that air can pass therethrough, traps and discharge-pipes to receive any water which may splash into the outer part of the structure.

8. A vessel consisting of concentric conically-ended shells, with an interior axially-suspended swinging containing-compartment, central and bilge keels and horizontally-disposed side shelves extending lengthwise of the exterior shell, life-lines attached thereto whereby access may be had to the side shelves, and a closable hatchway through which access may be had to the interior of the apparatus.

9. A vessel consisting of outer and inner concentric shells, an interior longitudinallysnspended swinging compartment, and ventilating devices at the ends, said devices consis tin g of casings with valve-seats at the outer and inner ends, and ball-valves with guides upon which they are movable so as to close against either of the seats by pressure or gravitation.

10. A vessel consisting of outer and inner concentric shells, an interior longitudinallysuspended swinging compartment, independ ent casings fitted to the ends of the vessel, and having valve-seats at their inner and outer ends, guided ball-valves movable in the chambers by gravitation or pressure to close against either seat, one of said casings being removable to allow the passage of the anchor chain or cable.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES BUCKEL.

Witnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, JESSIE C. BRODIE. 

